Anatomy of the Coelacanth

By Peter Tyson

Posted 01.01.03

NOVA

Scientists thought the coelacanth died out 66 million years ago, because it vanishes from the fossil record then. But in 1938 a live coelacanth was hauled up in a fisherman's nets off South Africa. Since then, another surviving species has turned up in Indonesia. Here, in our clickable coelacanth, see what makes this ancient fish stand out from all others.